This spring, the high-end retailer Nordstrom has curated an impressive collection of merchandise from the 2012 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund finalists and is bringing some of the most coveted pieces to five select Nordstrom stores, including Chicago’s Michigan Avenue location, for a limited time. The fund supports the next generation of fashion designers, offering business mentoring and seed money to the winners—not to mention an enviable level of exposure.

“We are proud to evolve our commitment to the future of American fashion by hosting CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund shops in our stores. We think our customers will be excited to have access to the collections of these talented designers,” says Nordstrom Executive Vice President Jeffrey Kalinsky. This year The Elder Statesman’s Greg Chait won top honors (and an impressive $300,000 grant), while runners-up Tabitha Simmons and Jennifer Meyer Maguire also received generous financial support from the fund. Their creations are showcased alongside those of the seven other finalists in a dedicated section of Nordstrom. “It is a great opportunity for our 10 designers to have a presence in-store with a major retailer, and this will give their collections great exposure to a broader audience,” said Steven Kolb, CEO of the CFDA.

Chicago shoppers can style themselves in these cutting-edge designs from head to toe, pairing A.L.C.’s leather Bordeaux miniskirt with Tabitha Simmons’s suede buckle booties for a night of cocktails at the ultra-exclusive speakeasy The Office. Or for a casual day of running around town, opt instead for The Elder Statesman’s soft, striped cardigan, Jennifer Meyer Maguire’s delicate wishbone pendant, and Wes Gordon trousers. No matter the occasion, the wardrobe possibilities are positively endless. 55 E. Grand Ave., 312-464-1515

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